Chabauty limits of simple groups acting on trees

Abstract

Let $T$ be a locally finite tree without vertices of degree $1$. We show that among the closed subgroups of $\mathrm{Aut}(T)$ acting with a bounded number of orbits, the Chabauty-closure of the set of topologically simple groups is the set of groups without proper open subgroup of finite index. Moreover, if all vertices of $T$ have degree $\geq 3$, then the set of isomorphism classes of topologically simple closed subgroups of $\mathrm{Aut}(T)$ acting doubly transitively on $\partial T$ carries a natural compact Hausdorff topology inherited from Chabauty. Some of our considerations are valid in the context of automorphism groups of locally finite connected graphs. Applications to Weyl-transitive automorphism groups of buildings are also presented.